Help with coop idea

[lovemyjjbs]

hello. I currently have 19 chicks inside right now. They range from 3wks to 5days old. We have a little TSC chicken coop that we've had for awhile and have added a 6x9 predator proof run to it. We've butted those up against our shed that we are deciding to turn half into a nesting/roosting area. That converted housing will be 10x 6. So in total I believe we'll have about 120 sqft. They will also all have the option to be free range during the day. I know for a fact that I have at least 9 pullets. I'm waiting another month to hopefully sex my 8 silkies I have. These are some questions I have.

● how many nesting boxes should we make?
● ideal nesting size dimensions?
● is 6sqft per chicken enough space when closed in for the night?

 

[rosemarythyme]

5-6 nest boxes. Assuming you don't have any giant breeds, 12" cubed is pretty standard for nests, though you can go larger if you want - mine are 14.5" cubed.

6 sq ft of coop space is quite good unless you live in an extreme cold (arctic) type climate where birds may not want to come out for months.

 

[lovemyjjbs]

5-6 nest boxes. Assuming you don't have any giant breeds, 12" cubed is pretty standard for nests, though you can go larger if you want - mine are 14.5" cubed.

6 sq ft of coop space is quite good unless you live in an extreme cold (arctic) type climate where birds may not want to come out for months.

5-6 nest boxes. Assuming you don't have any giant breeds, 12" cubed is pretty standard for nests, though you can go larger if you want - mine are 14.5" cubed.

6 sq ft of coop space is quite good unless you live in an extreme cold (arctic) type climate where birds may not want to come out for months.

Thank you. I'll have my husband build 14" boxes. I don't believe I have giant breeds. A couple RSL, 2 SLW, 1 BO, 1 BR and a couple SF. We are on 7 acres so they'll be able to free range during the day and then put up at night. I just want to make sure when they are put up I'm not over crowding. I'm in Fort Worth TX so it doesn't get extremely cold in the winter and no snow. But I do have heat lamps in the coop area. I appreciate you replying

 

[Kgbao]

hello. I currently have 19 chicks inside right now. They range from 3wks to 5days old. We have a little TSC chicken coop that we've had for awhile and have added a 6x9 predator proof run to it. We've butted those up against our shed that we are deciding to turn half into a nesting/roosting area. That converted housing will be 10x 6. So in total I believe we'll have about 120 sqft. They will also all have the option to be free range during the day. I know for a fact that I have at least 9 pullets. I'm waiting another month to hopefully sex my 8 silkies I have. These are some questions I have.

● how many nesting boxes should we make?
● ideal nesting size dimensions?
● is 6sqft per chicken enough space when closed in for the night?

Pictures or it didn’t happen.

 

[lovemyjjbs]

Pictures or it didn’t happen.

Lol ok heres the work in progress. My husband is replacing the whole outside wall on the shed. He's letting our boys learn how to cut/build. So my 12 year old only got a little cutting in today because he's a weenie

 

[aart]

He's letting our boys learn how to cut/build. So my 12 year old only got a little cutting in today because he's a weenie

Don't call him a weenie!!
Let them learn at their own pace, or you might have to take a trip to hospital.
Ok, sorry!

We've butted those up against our shed that we are deciding to turn half into a nesting/roosting area.

Good Move!
Can't wait to see the progress here.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm in Fort Worth TX so it doesn't get extremely cold in the winter and no snow. But I do have heat lamps in the coop area. I appreciate you replying

You won't ever need the heat lamps, so I'd remove them so you aren't tempted to plug 'em in.

 

[lovemyjjbs]

You won't ever need the heat lamps, so I'd remove them so you aren't tempted to plug 'em in.

Oh really?? Even if the Temps during winter get into the 20s?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oh really?? Even if the Temps during winter get into the 20s?

That's absolutely fine for chickens. You just want to make sure they have a draft free (but still ventilated) area to roost in for the night - dry, unruffled chickens are warm chickens.